Anyone who mentions the words domestic violence automatically thinks of the various forms of physical abuse which are visible to the naked eye. Below the surface of those wounds though is a crushed heart and a remnant of an image bearer of God. Often in the Christian community the devastation of verbal and emotional abuse…
In October (just two months away!) we will again be offering our Partners in the Journey training for pastors and church staff and social workers and EVERYONE who wants to know more about domestic abuse, intimate partner violence and how to help someone in that situation. This two-day training covers all the basics of starting…
Have you ever wanted to speak up but you were afraid that no one would believe you? Have you ever been threatened that if you said anything to anyone, bad things would happen to you? Have you ever just stayed quiet so that you might be safer? Have you ever felt that being as quiet…
“Mr. Big Man,” said the judge as she passed him two pieces of paper. Big Man looked up, reached out his big hand and took the papers from the judge with a confused look on his face. “Mr. Big Man, you’ve just been served. Glorie Christos, your request for a two-year plenary order of protection…
I wonder if you are like me at Christmas-time? Because of trauma and broken family traditions and feelings of sadness, I struggle every year to put up the Christmas tree. I have endless conversations inside my head about the reasons why I don’t feel like getting the tree out of its box in the…
“I feel sorry for him. He had an abusive childhood.” “He said he’s sorry for hurting me and it’ll never happen again so I guess I will stay. I can forgive him one more time.” “I feel physically sick at the thought of leaving him. He can be very kind sometimes.” “He makes me feel…
Little Wife wasn’t always little. She remembered a day when she stood tall, slim and proud in her lacy Victorian wedding dress. She remembered being pretty and funny, clever and smart. She was confident in herself and sure of her plans. All her hopes and dreams were coming true. If she had an idea, Little…
Little Wife crawled into the super-sized, California King-sized bed. Because the bed was pushed up snugly next to the wall, and the ceiling came down at an extremely sharp angle, she had to crawl into the bed from the bottom. Big Man was already dead asleep in the large bed, sprawled out on his back,…